The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially scheduled the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun for June 20 and August 8, 2026, respectively.
Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC chairman, disclosed these dates on Friday during the swearing-in ceremony of six newly appointed resident electoral commissioners (RECs). He emphasized that, in accordance with legal requirements, the commission is mandated to publish notices for significant elections no less than 360 days prior to the election date.
Yakubu explained that to comply with legal stipulations, INEC has approved a comprehensive timetable and schedule of activities for the Ekiti and Osun state governorship elections.
“For Ekiti State, the election will be held on Saturday, June 20, 2026. Party primaries will commence on October 20, 2025, and conclude on November 10, 2025, enabling political parties to upload their nomination forms to the dedicated portal, which will automatically close at 6:00 PM on December 22, 2025, aligning with the 180-day pre-election requirement,” he stated.
He further outlined the election timeline, noting, “The final list of candidates will be published on January 18, 2026, with public campaigning by political parties beginning on January 21, 2026, and concluding 24 hours before election day.”
In detailing the Osun State election process, Yakubu remarked, “Party primaries will start on November 24, 2025, and end on December 15, 2025. The nomination form submission portal will shut down at 6:00 PM on February 9, 2026, also adhering to the 180-day rule. The final list of candidates will be published on March 9, 2026, with campaign activities for political parties starting on March 11, 2026, and ending 24 hours before election day.”
The detailed timetable and schedule of activities for both governorship elections have been uploaded to INEC’s website and social media platforms for the guidance of political parties and public awareness.
Furthermore, Yakubu addressed public concerns regarding pending bye-elections and the anticipated resumption of continuous voter registration (CVR) across the nation. “The number of bye-elections has now risen to 17. We understand the urgency to initiate the CVR, particularly with the upcoming governorship election in Anambra State. We assure Nigerians that we are finalizing our preparations for both activities, with specifics to be announced shortly,” he added.